Vending machine



March 18, 1930. L. E. PARKER VENDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 23, 1927 March 18, 1930. 1 E. PARKER VENDING. MACHINE Filed June 23, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 18; 1930. PARKER '7 1,751,169 7 ENDING- uACHINE Filed June 2:5. 1927 5 Sheets-Speet 4' March 18, 1930. 1.. E. PARKER VENDING. MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 23. 1927 Patented Mar. 18, 1930 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE Lucian E. PARKE-3,01 wsnswoa'rn, omo, ASSIGNOB TO THE onro MATCH column, on wnnswon'rmonro, A CORPORATION or 01110 VENDING MACHINE Application filed June 23,

In the vending of small articles, such as book matches and small boxes of matches, by

means of vending machines, it is customary to fill the hoppers of such vending machine by taking the articles from the containers in which they are packaged and placing them in order in such hoppers. v i This is a tedious and time-consuming operation, and in the case of book matches, unless the books are properly and carefully arranged in the hoppers of the machines, they will not feed therefrom properly when the machine is operated.

It is the object of my invention to provide a vending or dispensing machine, particularly for dispensing book matches and small boxes of matches, such as the ordinary and well known boxes of safety matches, whichis designed to receivein its hopper the full or'original package of such articles.

I am aware that paper drinking cups, particularly of the flat type, have been loaded into dispensing machines therefor,-by packaging the cups in containers so constructed that the whole package, including the con tainer may be inserted in the machine, but in devices of this character no means are provided for mechanically feeding the cups from the machine, and obviously, therefore, such so machines, are not in the same category as machines such as mine, wherein mechanical means are provided for'ejecting the farticles from the hopper and from the container in- I serted therein.

-Under the prevailing practice, book matches are packed in nested arrangement edgewise in. cardboard boxes having closed ends, sides and bottoms and removable covers,

' and my machineis designed to receive in.

40 its hopper .a complete box of this type with the, books of matches therein, but with the cover or lid removed, the books being ejected fromthe hopper and the box therein by appropriate mechanical ejecting mechanism.

.In its broad aspect, the invention consists in a vending or dispensing machine having a hopper adaptedto receive a packageof the ,7 7 articles to bevended or dispensed, including the co'ntainer -in which the articles are Packaged, meansbeing provided in combination 1927. Serial No. 200,935.

perspective view of a complete package of' book matches such as may lie used in the hop-- per of my machine, a part of the lidor cover thereof being broken away to show the arrangement of the match books therein. Figs.

3 and 4 are fragmentary views illustrating two ways in which the containers may be prepared for use in my machine. Fig. 5 is a fragv -mentary sectional elevation of the machine with the hopper thereof loaded with match 7 books. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but

showing the machine modified to adapt it for the vending or dispensing of boxes of.

matches. Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional side elevation of the machine. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 7

but showing the position of the articles in the hopper during the ejecting operation. Figs.

9- and 10 are enlarged fragmentary detail views illustrating one aspect of the operation of the ejector bars. Fig. 11 is a horizontal section taken on line 1111' of Fig. 7 on a smaller scale, parts thereof being broken away to show the mechanism beneath. Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of the check-controlled members .of the ejector mechanism. 'Fig. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of the check-actuated stop member. Fig. 14 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the ejector mechanism and associated parts. 7

The machine has a base 1, and a hopper 2 rigidly mounted upon the base and having I an open upper or loading end 3 provided with a suitable cover 4 which may behinged or otherwisemounted and secured in place by a tongueand lock mechanism 5, 'or' other means which will prevent unauthorized access to or tampering with the contents of the hopper. a i

The base 1 is provicled with a top portion 6 which forms a surface upon which the artierably four,

engage with the stops cles, including their container, positioned in the-hopper 2, may be supported and upon which such articles may be ejected. I

The ejector mechanism (Figs. 7 to 14) has a slide member 7 preferably of-channel formation to provide a finger hold, from the ends of which extend rigid link members 8 having slides 9 which normally engage with slidewavs 10 in the sides ofthe base 1. The rear ends 11 of the link members 8 have secured between them,.in any appropriate manner, a cross member 12 carrying a plurality, prefof ejector bars 13 provided with sharpened leading ends 14 and having barbs or prongs15 formed inthcir' sides, for a purpose later explained.

Depending from the cross member 12is a boss 16 carrying an arm 17 to the forward end of which is fixed a check or coin holder 18 which directly underlies a complemental slot 19 in the .slide 7, and directly beneath the cross member 12 is a forwardly extending flat strip 20 which slides in' a complemental depression 21 in thetop 6 of the base 1.

" Within the base 1 is mounted a stand 22 having a projecting arm 23 over which the check or c'oin holder .18 slides and which normally closes the coin or check-holding slot of the holder. Also carried by this stand 22 isa spring latch member 24 controlled by a key or otherwise actuated lock 25, and this latch member engages a coin tray 26 which rests upon the bottom 27 of the base 1 and carriesaplate 28 which ,closes the front end -of the base.

Carried b% the plate 28 is a spring sto member 29 igs. 7, 12 and 13) provided wit stops 30 and cam members 31. I

By reference to Figs. 12, 13 arid 14, it will be seen that the coin slot 32 of the check orcoin holder 18 extends through the holder from top to bottom, and also that the holder is recessed upon its sidesto form lugs 33 and depressions 34. The lugs '33 are adapted to 30 of the stop member 29, and the cam members 31 normally lie in juxtaposition tothe depressions 34.

The front of the hopper 2 at its lower end s provided with an opening 35 of a height sufficient to permit the passage through it of the lowermost of the articles contained in the hopper. .Thisopening is-normally closed by oneof-the flan cs 36 of the slide member 7. The back of the op er is provided with openings 37 through w ich "the ejector bars 13 may pass. Sight openings 38 are formed in the hopper front so that the contents may be seen and the need for replenishment noted.

A suitable cover plate. 39 is provided for covering "the ejector mechanism. 7 The operation of the device is as follows -Itwill be noted first-that'the machine is designed to vend two books'of matches or other articles at one operation of the ejector and upon the depositing of a single check or in the hopper, with its open top toward the front of the hopper. This boxforms the sub I j ect of my copending application filed August 29, 1927, Serial No. 216,104: 2

In order that the ejector bars 13 mayeasily pass throughjhe bottom 41 of the box,

I may provide therein appropriately located openings 42-for their reception, orI maypartially sever disks similarly located, as indicated at 43, Fig. 4, same eing removed before the package is inserted in the hopper.

package of match books i However, as already pointed out, it is not a necessary that any provision be made for-the passage of the ejectorbars 13, and therefore the box may have its bottom intact, theejector bars being capable of forming theirown openings therein. I

With the hopper thus filled, and the parts in .the positions of Fig. 7, the machine is ready to operate. In order to obtam the books of matches from the machine, the purchaser deposits his check or coin, say one cent, in the slot 19. The coin. drops through this slot and a similar registering slot 19 in the top 6 of the base, and falls into the slot 32 of holder 18, being, prevented from passing therethrough by the arm 23. It will be apparent, by reference to Figs. 5, 6 and 12, that the coin when in this position extends beyond the edges of the depressions 34. vBy pulling upon the flange 36 of the slide member 7 the coin will come in contact with the cam members 31 and will spread them apart, at the same time spreading apart the stops 30 upon opposite sides so that they .Will not be'in the path of movement of the lugs 33 of the coin older 18. The stops being thus moved out of the way the slide may be moved to the position shown in Fig. 8, the coin falling into the tray 26 when it clears the end of arm 23. As the slide is moved forward, it carries with it the rest of the Fig. 14, the ejector bars 13 pushing forward the two lowermost books of matches of the two stacks, and the strip 20 sliding in the depression 21 and filling same flush with the rest of the top6, and covering the coin slot 19 in the top.

As will be seen by reference to F ig; 8, the y next two books of matches in order rest upon the bars'13 will, by means.

ejector mechanism shown in cannot escape from a of their sharp ends 14, puncture or pierce the box. In thus puncturing or piercing the box, lips or tabs of cardboard are almost sure to be formed, as shown in Fig. 9, and these would arrest the descent of the stacks of match books, upon withdrawal ofthe bars 13 from beneath them, were it not for the provision of the prongs or barbs 15 which engage with these tabs and pull them back into the openings 37 in the back of the hopper, as shown in F i It will be apparent that the coin is the operating link in the mechanism for the reason that lacking its presence in the holder 18, the

stops 3O limit movement of the ejector mechanism, and a coin cannot be inserted unless the parts are in the positions shown in Figs. 1, 7, 11 and 12, because when in any other position the coin slot 19 in the top 6 of the base is covered and closed by the strip 20. Thus, before the machine can be operated to obtain matches, it is necessary, if the slide is left as shown in Fig. 8, to push it back to the position of Fig. 7.

When it is desired to' empty the coin tray,

the latch 24 is lifted by insertion and turning ke in the'lock 25, then the front plate 28 is pulled out and the tray 26 comes with it. I

I have described particularl the vending or dispensing of book matches, ut as hereinbefore indicated, the machine may be adapted for use with boxes of matches or other articles. the only changes necessary being the proper proportioning of the various parts, particularly the opening 35 and flange' 36, and the ositioning'and conformation of the ejector ars 13.

Also, I have shown and :described'in some detail a'particular arrangement of check or coin-controlled ejector mechanism, but this mlght be replaced by other forms of such mechanism within the purview of my invention, the main feature of which is a machine of this or like character wherein provision is made for the reception of a whole package of articles tobe vended or dispensed, container,

and-all, and in means for automaticall feedmg the articles from the containerwhi e same is 1n the machine. By these means I do away with the laborious transferring ,of a; great 7 number of small articles from a package to the hopper of a vending or dispensingmach1ne,-as is now the general practice.-

As shown, my machine is designed to han dle two stacks of superposed articles, but ob viously it could be so modified as to handle a per, the said supplementary hoppef being the original container of 'the articles to be vend-c ed, and means for ejecting said articles from said supplementary hopper.

2. In -a vending machine and the l1ke provided with a hopper, a supplementary hopper, the said supplementary opper being the ori inal container of the articles to be vended, and means including ejector members adaptedto pass through said supplementary hopper for ejecting said articles therefrom.

3. In a vending machine and the like provided with a hopper, a supplementary hopper, the said supplementary hopper being the original container of the articles to be vended and in which said articles are arranged in a plurality of rows, and means for ejecting said articles from said supplementary hopper, said means being aligned with said rows.

4. In a vending machine and the like prothe original container of the articles to be vended, said supplementary'hopper provided with a plurality? of apertures in one of its sides, and an ejector provided with devices for entering said apertures to eject said articles.

5. In a vending machine and the like, prol per, said supplementary hopper being t e vided with a hopper, a supplementary ho original contamer of the articles to be vended .6. In a vending machine and the'like pro vided with a hopper, a supplementary hopper, said supplementaryz hopper being t e original contalner of the articles to be vended,

and in which said articles are arranged in a plurality of rows, an aperture in one side of said supplementary hopper in line with each of said rows, and an e ector'provided with devices for entering said apertures to eject one article from ,each of said rows simultaneously. 7. In a. vending machine and the like; a hopper adapted to receive a package of articles, including the container, and an ejector mechanism including an ejector bar adapted to penetrate saidcontainer to eject said articles therefrom in regular order. I

8. In a vending machine andthe like, a

hopper adapted to receive a package of articles, including-the container in which the articles are arranged in a plurality-of rows,

and an ejector mechanism including an ejector bar adapted to penetrate said container in line with each. of said rows to eject said articles therefrom inregular order.

* 9. In a vending machine and 'the like, a hopper adapted-to receive a package of articles, including the container, and an ejector mechanism, including an ejector bar adapted to penetrate said container to eject said articles therefrom in regular order, said bar being provided with means for clearing the opening in said container formed by its penetration thereof.

In testimony whereof-I have hereunto set Q my hand this 21st day of June A. D. 1927.

, v LUGIAN E. PARK R. 

